Persian rugs: The Complete Guide to Persian Rugs

Ganja Rugs: Chajli Long Rug

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Chajli Long Rug

This is the more common of the two types of rugs woven in Chaily or Chajli as it is commonly called in the trade. These rugs are usually attributed as Shirvan but according to a post (on a rug discussion site) by the late George Washington O'Bannon Chaily is in Gendja. Bennett, Ian et al. Oriental Rugs Volume 1 Caucasian suggests a possible Moghan attribution in discussion of plates 207 - 209. Ulrich Schurmann's Caucasian Rugs is the conventional wisdom and he says Shirvan see plate 76. I think O'Bannon was correct especially in that it coincides with Wright, Richard. Wertime, John. Caucasian Carpets and Covers page 127.

This is a very good example of a classic Caucasian design. Chajli medallions fall into two groups. Some have more octagonal medallions but most have what my friend Jorge Oliverios refers to as "square with clipped corners". This rug falls into that later group. This rug has 3 medallions which is the most common design. As with most they alternate in color. One area where this rug differs with most is that the three medallions abut instead of leaving a row of minor field medallions between each major medallion

This rug has a blue field which is to be expected. There are a few with red fields and any other color is rare. However it seems to me two white field Chajli have passed through Sotheby's in the last few years.

Chajli Long Rug, Chaily, Gendge. (present day Azerbaijan)

Size: 4 foot 4 inch by 8 foot 6 inch.

Structure: Symmetrical knot. 7 knots per horizontal inch and 7 knots per vertical inch. 49 per square inch (759.5 per square decimeter)

Colors: Royal blue, brick red, ivory, saddle brown, onyx, salmon, blue topaz.

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: 2 ply tan wool.

Weft: 2 shots brown wool.

Pile: 2 wool singles.

Ends: Post-hitch wharf bindings with .5 inch warp fringe.

Selvages: 2 cord interlacing saddle brown, sienna, brick red wool.

Handle: Light, soft, pliable, durable.

Further Notes: Very good condition.

This rug is not as finely knotted as most Chajli which avenge 100 KPSI Oriental Rug Lexicon page 46. However it makes up for it with outstanding color. This rug appears to have two numbers in the field 331 and 321. It could be a date but it is virtually meaningless. If we reverse them and add a zero we would something like 1820 or 1911. Neither seem appropriate to this rug.

Persian Rugs the O'Connell Guides